AlWo73
- Oct 28, 2023
- 3 min read

Old Skool Shoot-Out: Part 2

OLD SKOOL SHOOT-OUT!

Part 2

NEMESIS

(Konami, May 1987)

Konami were Kings of the Arcade probably, even if their brief foray into releasing Spectrum software themselves ended embarrassingly quickly. Speccy fans were promised a surprisingly colourful version of Nemesis, which got toned down somewhat on release when reality set in.

Ingenious and easy to use weapon selection system

Use of more than one weapon at a time is a pleasant surprise

Moves at a fair click

Has quite a good loading screen

Has the same name as the uber-cool Warlock

The annoying repetitive bit at the start, there to give you weapons presumably

Punishing checkpoints make everything far too repetitive

Rather dull sound FX, not much of an arcade feel

A meagre 3 lives is nowhere near enough for this game

No guest appearance from the uber-cool Warlock

Crash - 59%

YS - 8/10

SU - 5* Classic

Spectrum Computing user score - 57%

OVERALL 72%

Arcade Styling - 70%

Playability - 65%

Unique Features - 77%

OVERALL 71%

ZYNAPS

(Hewson, July 1987)

Another non-licence now, like Light Force, as Hewson tried their hand at a sideways scroller, the dependable Dominic Robinson of Uridium fame at the helm. Other luminaries such as Steve Turner and Stephen Crow were also in the room at the same time, so the pressure was on for something good. Reminds me of the Bandersnatch ad with the Imagine crew standing around laughing nervously, increasingly aware that they might well soon be unemployed.

Excellent sprites, clear as crystal

Massively colourful, and nice and neat with it

Decent sound FX - not too repetitive and varied enough

Very playable from the off, nothing too nasty in the first minute or so

There's room to breathe, with enemy attacks not being too constant

Hard to grasp weapons system - I still can't get my head round it

Aliens' loopy patterns look great but can be quite annoying

The checkpoints are perhaps not the kindest

On the menu screen, it doesn't appear to tell you what keys to press for various options

I'm not a huge fan of Steve Turner's music. I know, I'm sorry...

Crash - 91% Smash

YS - 8/10

SU - 10/10 Classic

Spectrum Computing user score - 82%

OVERALL 87%

Arcade Styling - 92%

Playability - 90%

Unique Features - 83%

OVERALL 88%

XECUTOR

(Ace Software, October 1987)

Christian Urquhart did a lot of games in his time, from Transversion to Snoopy or thereabouts. And they were mostly characterised by big colourful sprites, much like this game, one of not very many by Ace Software. So was it ace, or could Quasimodo have done better?

Super colourful, a real arcade look to the game

Really nice graphics with neat detailed sprites

Game keeps scrolling even when you die - sometimes this is the best way to progress!

A decent variety of weapons, though you need the better ones earlier

2 players at once is possible, if you can find the room...

Outrageously cramped playing area. Everything is way too tight

Far too hard generally, super unforgiving from the word go

Not very playable as a result - a punishing start will drive most people mad

Just the 3 lives. Really?

Far too often an average go lasts about half a minute. Did I mention it's hard?!?

Crash - 84%

YS - 9/10 Megagame

SU - 10/10 Classic

Ace Magazine (no relation) - 76%

Spectrum Computing user score - 77%

OVERALL 84%

Arcade Styling - 90%

Playability - 55%

Unique Features - 75%

OVERALL 73%

FLYING SHARK

(Firebird, February 1988)

Not entirely sure how different this coin-op was to 1942, or 1943 for that matter, but Firebird managed to get Dom 'Zynaps' Robinson on board for this one, hoping for a barnstorming result. But could he do uppy downy shmups as well as he could do lefty righty shmups? And surely it would be packed with colour, like the Z game was?